Bag for fruit-pickers.



J. B. WILLIAMS.

BAG FOR FRUIT PIGKERS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1901.

PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903.-

H0 MODEL.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN B. WILLIAMS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BAG FOR FRUIT-PICKERS.

.SPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,646, dated January 6, 1903.

Application filed July 6, 1901- Serial No. 67,300 (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN B. WILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Bag for Fruit-Pickers, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention is an improved bag to be used by fruit-pickers to hold the fruit until such time as it can be deposited.

The object of the invention is to provide a bag which can be conveniently, quickly, and easily deposited.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the quick and easy discharge of the fruit from the bag without damaging said fruit during such operation.

With these objects in view the invention consists, essentially, of a bag or sack open at both ends, the upper end having a ring arranged therein for normally holding said end open, the lower end being provided with means for closing the same, the opening at the lower end being wider than the upper end, whereby the fruit can be discharged without bruising.

The invention consists also in providing an intermediate ring for the purpose of holding the sides of the bag or sack distended, thereby avoiding crushing the fruit while contained within the bag or sack.

The invention consists also in certain details hereinafterfully described, and pointed out in the claim- In the drawings forming part of thisspech fication, Figure 1 isa View showing the practical application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, the lower end being open. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig; 4 is aldetail perspective view of the means employed forclosing the lower end of the bag or sack, and Fig. 5 is a sectional View illustratingthe manner of connecting the said fastening means to the bag.

In carrying out my invention I employ a bag or sack A, which may be of any suitable material, said bag or sack being open at both the upper and lower ends, the opening at the lower end being considerably larger than the opening at the upper end, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. A wooden or spring-metal ring B is secured at the mouth of thebag, and

shoulder-straps C are attached to the upper end of the bag, by means of which the bag can be conveniently carried from the shoulder of the picker. A spring-metal ring D is also attached to the bag, preferably upon the interior and about midway its height, the purpose of said ring being to hold the bag distended, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1, so that the fruit contained within the bag will not be crushed.

In operation the lower end of the bag is normally closed, and in order to efiect such closure I attach a hook E to the exterior of the bag adjacent to its lower end and also a chain F, the end of the bag being gathered together and the chain Wrapped around such gathered end and fastened upon the hook, thereby closing the lower end of the bag, and whenever it is desired to discharge the contents of the bag the chain is nnhooked and unwrapped and the lower end of the bag opened and expanded, thereby permitting the contents of the bag to pass freely therefrom.

In practice I prefer to construct the hook E with an eye E, to which the chain F is attached, and this chain preferably has a ringlink F, which is adapted for engagement with the hook E. In securing the hook to the bag I employ a metallic plate G, which is arranged upon the exterior of the bag and extends across or over the shank of the hook. This plate is securely riveted to the bag, and pieces of leather H are arranged upon the interior of the bag to secure the said rivets. In practice I prefer to curve or bend the spring ring or band D slightly inwardly, as shown at D, so that the bag will readily accommodate itself to the body of the picker, the inwardly bent or curved portion D fitting upon the hip of the operator.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap and simple construction of bag or sack for fruit-pickers use, one which can be easily and conveniently operated and which will prevent the fruit beingbruised while being carried in the bag and also when being discharged therefrom.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A bag open at its upper and lower end, and provided witha spring-band at its upper end for normally holding said end open, the lower I adapted to encircle the lower end of the bag end being larger than the upperend, a springand engage a hook secured to the said lower ring arranged at the intermediate portion of end for securing said end in a closed position. the bag in a distended position, said ring hav- JOHN B. WILLIAMS.

5 ing an inward curvature adapted to fit on the Witnesses:

hip of the picker, and a hook-and-chain fas- ALVIN BLOCK, tening at the lower end of the bag, said chain CHARLES M. ALLEN. 

